Tennessee Songwriters Association International: Demo Guidelines

TSAI "Gold Nuggets" Program

TSAI strives to maintain a high standard of song demo quality for its Pitch-A-Pro nights. Our current standards require "Full Demos", and sometimes allow "Professional Guitar / Piano Vocals" on nights when our guest(s) specifically agree that these demos are acceptable. Below are the TSAI guidelines for our categories of demos.
"Full Demo" – A demo produced in a commercial multi-track studio, using a professional recording engineer, a professional vocalist, and several professional musicians. There is a drum track and 3 or more instruments on the recording.
"Professional Guitar / Piano Vocals" – A demo produced in a commercial multi-track studio, using a professional recording engineer, a professional vocalist, and at least one professional musician and instrument, i.e. guitar or piano.
"Work Tape" – Any demo that does not meet the above requirements. This level of demo is acceptable at critique sessions ONLY.
"Live Performance" – Acceptable at critique sessions ONLY.
Ask yourself honestly before pitching your song whether it meets these TSAI standards. If it doesn’t, please do not pitch it. TSAI has an outstanding reputation, and if you want TSAI to continue bringing top industry professionals and artists to be our guests and listen to your songs, pleases comply with TSAI requirements.
For examples of our demo standards, visit our Gold Nuggets page to hear the level of songs and demos that are picked up at our Pitch-A-Pro nights.
Finally, Please Note:
- Only one song per CD.
- CD must be in a Tyvek or cardboard sleeve, no plastic jewel cases.
- CD must have a printed label on it.
- Lyrics must be typewritten.
- CD and Lyrics should contain the song title, writers' names, copyright notice, and your contact information.

Welcome to the TSAI page

The Tennessee Songwriters Association is a "hands-on" organization for songwriters. Annual membership is $75.00 per year, and opens the door to a wealth of services that will specifically address your needs as a songwriter, including:

A Monthly Newsletter packed with information, tips, interviews, ideas, songwriting updates, including information bulletins about copyright revisions, contracts updates, and other timely information. It also contains a tip sheet letting you know who's looking for material, recording or producing, what types of songs they want, and where to send your material.

Weekly Workshops dealing with all phases of the music industry that will help you better understand the business and the people who operate it. Workshops include Critique Night, where you can have your songs critiqued by your peers and receive feedback and suggestions to make your songs better; Pitch-A-Pro Night, where you can pitch your songs directly to a producer, publisher or artist who is seeking material; Pro-Rap Night, where we bring successful and well-known guest speakers from the music industry to present their views and to answer your questions; and the Legend Series, where you can meet some of the greatest names in the entertainment industry.

Recommendations for the products and professional services needed by songwriters, including talented demo singers and musicians, and also information about producers, publishers, artists and record labels whose reputations have been checked out by TSAI and its members.

The Opportunity To Meet with other songwriters, just like you, who are willing to help and encourage you with your songwriting, and perhaps meet that co-writer you've been looking for. We hold regular showcases where members of the TSAI have the opportunity to perform their songs as well as annual events such as the Summer Jam and the Awards Banquet, where we honor our most accomplished songwriters.

We welcome your ideas and energy and encourage your participation.

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Demo Guidelines

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Welcome to the TSAI page